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Chloe Kelly Faces Toxic Backlash for Being ‘Too Loud’ and ‘Too Extra’

Arsenal Women, Chloe Kelly, England Women's National Football Team, Women's Euros 2025

Chloe Kelly has had a stellar year and campaign this time around.

The 27-year-old English winger, within a span of 6 months, has won the UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, both of which some would say are the pinnacle prizes in the sport of football.

Kelly delivered clutch performances during Arsenal’s 2024–25 UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign.

She started in the final, helping Arsenal stun Barcelona 1–0 and lift the trophy, Arsenal’s second in the competition’s history.

In the final, she made an important block versus Barcelona’s Pina and helped neutralize build-up play, notably blocking a shot from Aitana Bonmatí in the first half.

In the WSL games for Arsenal post-loan, she scored 2 goals and had 3 assists during 2024–25.

She also contributed to key results such as scoring and assisting in a pivotal 4–3 win over Manchester United to secure a 2nd place finish in the WSL.

On 30 January 2025, Kelly secured a loan move back to Arsenal, returning to the club where she began her senior career after a horrid time at her previous club, Manchester City.

Kelly was struggling to earn minutes at Manchester City, where she played just 6 matches all season in the WSL, 5 in the Champions League (where she got 2 goals and 2 assists), and just one in the FA Cup, and publicly acknowledged that her future lay away from the club.

Things got so bad that she was subsequently dropped from the England squad, sparking speculation about both her form and headspace, even reporting in January that she had considered stepping away from the game altogether.

But after months of rumors and drama, Kelly finally signed for Arsenal on loan in order to get her mojo back and also get back into the England squad for the upcoming Euros.

After her initial loan, on 2 July 2025, she signed a permanent deal with Arsenal, confirming her long-term return to north London.

This clearly turned out to be a good move for her, as she was back amongst the goals and assists, more importantly getting playing time, and also won the most important trophy in European football, the UEFA Champions League, where she played in the final against Barcelona as well.

Later, things got even better for the English forward, as England’s final 23-player squad for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 was officially revealed on 5 June 2025.

Kelly managed to get herself into this squad selected by coach Sarina Wiegman, earning her spot back after being previously dropped from England due to limited minutes at Manchester City

England won the Women’s Euro 2025 recently by beating Spain in the final, and Kelly was instrumental in England winning their second consecutive European Championship title.

In the quarter-final against Sweden, she came off the bench and assisted Lucy Bronze’s equalizer and scored in the ensuing penalty shootout.

In the semi-final against Italy, she scored a 119th-minute winner, sending England to the final in dramatic fashion.

Finally, in the final against Spain, she assisted Alessia Russo to level the game, then calmly dispatched the decisive penalty in the shootout to clinch the title.

Despite rarely starting, she created eight chances, delivered 19 crosses, and was consistently impactful off the bench throughout the Euros.

Kelly also became the first player to score winning goals/spot-kicks in two European Championship finals (2022 and 2025).

It was a joyful moment for her after a turbulent time at City, and Kelly publicly credited manager Sarina Wiegman for giving her belief and an opportunity when she was at her lowest point, stating,

“She gave me hope when I probably didn’t have any.”

Following her Euro heroics and Champions League success, Kelly has further become a betting favorite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025, with odds surpassing top contenders like Rory McIlroy.

But even after so much success and so many accolades, the European champion has become the center of abuse and hate recently over social media.

It all began shortly after England’s triumph in the Euro 2025 final against Spain, where Kelly scored the decisive penalty in the shootout.

During post-match celebrations, she was seen holding her gold winner’s medal and saying:

“The first time was so nice, we had to do it twice.”

While the phrase is a popular meme in internet culture, previously said by the likes of boxer Anthony Joshua after his rematch win over Andy Ruiz, Kelly’s use of it sparked a wave of online backlash.

Many users on social media began mocking her delivery, specifically criticizing her high-pitched and shrill voice in the video clip.

One fan stated,

“Sounds like a freaking squeaky toy.”

This user took a jab at her voice tone, likening it to a squeaky tone, implying it was irritating or unnatural.

Another fan stated,

“Great voice. She can be a singer when she retires from soccer.”

Likely sarcastic, this comment mocks her vocal pitch by suggesting a musical career.

Another fan said,

“Wow, this video just gave me the nastiest ache ever.”

A harsh reaction, calling the clip uncomfortable or cringeworthy.

While this fan stated,

“Sounds like a Nickelodeon character.”

Here, the comparison suggests her voice resembles that of an animated or overly dramatic cartoon character.

In another instance, during the England Lionesses’ 2025 victory parade, Kelly stood atop the team bus performing a popular viral dance, inspired by the well-known Indonesian boat clip featuring Rayyan Arkan Dhika, where the young boy dances energetically at the edge of a moving boat.

This moment of celebration was labeled by many online as aura farming.

However, the move again drew criticism.

Some fans saw it as forced or attention-seeking, sparking yet another wave of backlash.

One fan stated,

“That ain’t aura farming, fam.”

Suggesting that Kelly’s version lacked the authenticity or charm of the original viral moment by Rayyan.

Another fan stated,

“That is not aura farming; this is deep brain rot, and it is completely cringe.”

An intense criticism implying that the act wasn’t just embarrassing but nonsensical or mentally draining to watch.

Further, another fan stated,

“How can one person possibly be this cringe?”

A blunt attack on her personality or public behavior.

Yet, not all responses were negative. One fan came to her defense and stated,

“The way she laughs at herself and how silly the moves are is funny. I don’t get the hate.”

This user pointed out that Kelly wasn’t taking herself too seriously and that her self-aware humor should be appreciated rather than criticized.

The criticism escalated even further when Chloe Kelly was asked to speak during the Lionesses’ public stage appearance after their Euro bus parade.

Holding the mic in front of thousands, she delivered another existing meme-friendly quote:

“Pressure? What pressure?”

A confident nod to the immense scrutiny and pressure elite athletes face and possibly a callback to her cool-headed penalty heroics.

However, this line was again met with sarcasm and online hate.

Some users began mocking her repetitive style and delivery.

“Can she say something original?”

This fan expressed frustration at her recurring use of slogans or scripted lines.

A few even went so far as to mock her physical appearance and compared her appearance to the former Manchester United player, Luke Chadwick, for having similar blonde hair.

Further, in response to her “what pressure?” quote, even her Euro 2025 semi-final winning goal in the 119th minute against Italy wasn’t spared.

One fan dismissed the iconic moment by questioning her composure and skill and stated,

“She lost her sh*t in the semi-final when the pressure was on and got lucky with the rebound.”

This critic reduced her winning goal to a fluke, undermining the significance of the moment.

In another instance, following her dramatic 119th-minute winner against Italy in the semi-final, Kelly celebrated with the now-iconic “Calma Calma” gesture, a celebration popularized by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The move instantly sparked a social media frenzy.

Many assumed she was paying tribute to Ronaldo, but when asked by a journalist post-match, Kelly clarified that her celebration was not a reference to the Portuguese star.

“It was just a moment of chill — like, we’ve got this — even in the final minute,” she said.

She added, “I didn’t think of Ronaldo. I prefer Messi anyway.”

That last line, “I prefer Messi anyway,” ignited further backlash.

Given the long-standing rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi fans, the comment didn’t go unnoticed.

Several Ronaldo fans took to social media to voice their displeasure.

One fan stated,

“This girl is talking too much now.”

This fan is expressing annoyance at how vocal Kelly has become in the media since the Euros win.

Another fan stated,

“You prefer Messi, that’s all right. But you can’t lie that you don’t idolize Ronaldo. I haven’t seen Messi with the Calma celebration.”

The fan accuses Kelly of hypocrisy, using Ronaldo’s signature celebration while claiming Messi as her preference.

Another fan stated,

“Mid prefers mid.”

A blunt insult implying both Kelly and Messi are overrated or average players.

Further, one fan stated,

“She knows Ronaldo is the greatest of all time. She just doesn’t want to admit it in the media.”

This fan suggests that Kelly is hiding her admiration for Ronaldo out of media pressure or personal bias.

But the criticism still didn’t end there.

In another instance, shortly after England’s Euro 2025 win, Kelly shared an Instagram story showing off her gold medals from the 2022 and 2025 European Championships, and the 2025 UEFA Women’s Champions League title with Arsenal.

The post was accompanied by Kendrick Lamar’s hit track Not Like Us, a well-known diss track aimed at Drake, which many interpreted as a message of self-confidence, subtly stating that no one is built like her.

However, even this was met with hostility online.

Some fans reacted with targeted comments.

One fan stated,

“I can see why she’s been a sub now.”

Implying her limited minutes at Manchester City and England (as she mainly came off the bench in the Euros) were justified.

One fan stated,

“Her mouth been running cassettes nonstop smh.”

Suggesting she’s talking too much after winning in the media outlets and on her social media.

Another fan stated,

“She’s not cold.”

Meaning she’s not as talented or composed as she portrays.

Another fan stated,

“She’s really cringe maxing.”

Again, accusing her of trying too hard to appear cool or confident.

Chloe Kelly’s journey shows how even great performances can bring mixed reactions.

While she’s been winning trophies and scoring crucial goals, some fans have focused more on her celebrations and opinions than her game.

But despite all the noise and hate online, she’s kept going strong, letting her football do the talking and proving she belongs at the top.


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